Controller for controlling actuator device installed on vehicle so as to maintain silence and comfort in vehicle

Abstract

A controller for controlling an actuator device which is installed on a vehicle and operated by a motor. The controller includes: a motor control portion operable to control the motor on the basis of a target value; and a target-value determining portion operable to determine the target value on the basis of a wave intensity characteristic. The wave intensity characteristic is represented by a relationship between (A) a propagated wave intensity indicative of an intensity of a wave which is generated as a result of activation of the actuator device and which is propagated to occupant of the vehicle, and (B) an output index indicative of an amount of an output of the motor. Also disclosed is a wave-intensity-characteristic obtainer for obtaining the wave intensity characteristic by measuring the intensity of the wave.

1. A controller for controlling an actuator device which is installed on a vehicle and operated by a motor, said controller comprising:
 a motor control portion operable to control the motor on the basis of a target value; and 
 a target-value determining portion operable to determine said target value on the basis of at least one wave-intensity characteristic, 
 wherein each of said at least one wave intensity characteristic is represented by a relationship between (A) a propagated wave intensity indicative of an intensity of a wave which is generated as a result of activation of the actuator device and which is propagated to occupant of the vehicle, and (B) an output index indicative of an amount of an output of the motor, and 
 wherein said target-value determining portion sets said target value at a value corresponding to a wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value in said output index which establishes a bottom value in said propagated wave intensity. 
 
   
   
     2. A controller for controlling an actuator device which is installed on a vehicle and operated by a motor, said controller comprising:
 a motor control portion operable to control the motor on the basis of a target value; and 
 a target-value determining portion operable to determine said target value on the basis of at least one wave intensity characteristic, 
 wherein each of said at least one wave intensity characteristic is represented by a relationship between (A) a propagated wave intensity indicative of an intensity of a wave which is generated as a result of activation of the actuator device and which is propagated to occupant of the vehicle, and (B) an output index indicative of an amount of an output of the motor, 
 wherein said target-value determining portion selects one of a plurality of wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output values in said output index which establish respective bottom values in said propagated wave intensity, 
 and wherein said target-value determining portion sets said target value at a value corresponding to the selected one of said plurality of wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output values in said output index. 
 
   
   
     3. The controller according to  claim 2 , wherein said one of said plurality of wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output values in said output index is selected on the basis of at least one of (i) a running state of the vehicle, (ii) an operating state of the vehicle, (iii) an activation state of each of at least one device which is installed on the vehicle and is other than the actuator device controlled by said controller, and (iv) an environment surrounding the vehicle. 
   
   
     4. A controller for controlling an actuator device which is installed on a vehicle and operated by a motor, said controller comprising:
 a motor control portion operable to control the motor on the basis of a target-value; and 
 a target-value determining portion operable to determine said target-value on the basis of at least one wave intensity characteristic, 
 wherein each of said at least one wave intensity characteristic is represented by a relationship between (A) a propagated wave intensity indicative of an intensity of a wave which is generated as a result of activation of the actuator device and which is propagated to occupant of the vehicle, and (B) an output index indicative of an amount of an output of the motor, 
 wherein said at least one wave intensity characteristic includes: (a) an acoustic wave intensity characteristic which is represented by an acoustic-wave-based relationship between a propagated acoustic wave intensity as said propagated wave intensity indicative of the intensity of an acoustic wave as said wave, and said output index; and (b) a vibrational wave intensity characteristic which is represented by a vibrational-wave-based relationship between a propagated vibrational wave intensity as said propagated wave intensity indicative of the intensity of a vibrational wave as said wave, and said output index, 
 wherein said target-value determining portion determines said target value on the basis of said acoustic wave intensity characteristic and said vibrational wave intensity characteristic, 
 wherein said target-value determining portion selects one of (a) an acoustic-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value in said output index which establishes a bottom value in said propagated acoustic wave intensity, and (b) a vibrational-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value in said output index which establishes a bottom value in said propagated vibrational wave intensity, 
 and wherein said target-value determining portion sets said target-value at a value corresponding to the selected one of said acoustic-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value and said vibrational-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value in said output index. 
 
   
   
     5. The controller according to  claim 4 , wherein said one of said acoustic-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value and said vibrational-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value in said output index is selected on the basis of at least one of (i) a running state of the vehicle, (ii) an operating state of the vehicle, (iii) an activation state of each of at least one device which is installed on the vehicle and is other than the actuator device controlled by said controller, and (iv) an environment surrounding the vehicle. 
   
   
     6. A controller for controlling an actuator device which is installed on a vehicle and operated by a motor, said controller comprising:
 a motor control portion operable to control the motor on the basis of a target value; and 
 a target-value determining portion operable to determine said target-value on the basis of at least one wave intensity characteristic, 
 wherein each of said at least one wave intensity characteristic is represented by a relationship between (A) a propagated wave intensity indicative of an intensity of a wave which is generated as a result of activation of the actuator device and which is propagated to occupant of the vehicle, and (B) an output index indicative of an amount of an output of the motor, 
 wherein said at least one wave intensity characteristic includes: (a) an acoustic wave intensity characteristic which is represented by an acoustic-wave-based relationship between a propagated acoustic wave intensity as said propagated wave intensity indicative of the intensity of an acoustic wave as said wave, and said output index; and (b) a vibrational wave intensity characteristic which is represented by a vibrational-wave-based relationship between a propagated vibrational wave intensity as said propagated wave intensity indicative of the intensity of a vibrational wave as said wave, and said output index, 
 and wherein said target-value determining portion determines said target-value on the basis of said acoustic wave intensity characteristic and said vibrational wave intensity characteristic to each of which a relative weighting is given. 
 
   
   
     7. The controller according to  claim 6 , wherein said target-value determining portion includes a relative-weighting determining portion operable to determine said relative weighting. 
   
   
     8. The controller according to  claim 7 , wherein said relative weighting is determined on the basis of at least one of (i) a running state of the vehicle, (ii) an operating state of the vehicle, (iii) an activation state of each of at least one device which is installed on the vehicle and is other than the actuator device controlled by said controller, and (iv) an environment surrounding the vehicle. 
   
   
     9. The controller according to  claim 7 , wherein said relative-weighting determining portion effects at least one of (a) a vibrational-wave-based weighting in which said relative weighting given to said vibrational wave intensity characteristic is increased when a sensitivity of the occupant of the vehicle with respect to said acoustic wave is low; and (b) an acoustic-wave-based weighting in which said relative weighting given to said acoustic wave intensity characteristic is increased when a sensitivity of the occupant of the vehicle with respect to said vibrational wave is low. 
   
   
     10. The controller according to  claim 6 , further comprising a target-value-settable-range determining portion operable to determine a target-value settable range within which said target-value is settable by said target-value determining portion. 
   
   
     11. The controller according to  claim 10 , wherein said target-value settable range is determined to be defined between two values respectively corresponding to two output values in said output index which are selected among (a) at least one acoustic-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value in said output index each of which establishes a bottom value in said propagated acoustic wave intensity, and (b) at least one vibrational-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value in said output index each of which establishes a bottom value in said propagated vibrational wave intensity. 
   
   
     12. The controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a wave-intensity-characteristic determining portion operable to determine said at least one wave intensity characteristic, on the basis of which said target-value determining portion determines said target-value. 
   
   
     13. The controller according to  claim 12 , wherein said wave-intensity-characteristic determining portion determines said at least one wave intensity characteristic on the basis of a characteristic changing factor which causes said relationship between said propagated wave intensity and said output index to be changed. 
   
   
     14. The controller according to  claim 13 , wherein said wave-intensity-characteristic determining portion selects said at least one wave intensity characteristic among a plurality of alternative characteristics, on the basis of a level in said characteristic changing factor. 
   
   
     15. A controller for controlling an actuator device which is installed on a vehicle and operated by a motor, said controller comprising:
 a motor control portion operable to control the motor on the basis of a target value; 
 a target-value determining portion operable to determine said target value on the basis of at least one wave intensity characteristic; and 
 an activation-condition changing portion operable to change an activation condition, with satisfaction of which the actuator device is activated, 
 wherein each of said at least one wave intensity characteristic is represented by a relationship between (A) a propagated wave intensity indicative of an intensity of a wave which is generated as a result of activation of the actuator device and which is propagated to occupant of the vehicle and (B) an output index indicative of an amount of an output of the motor, 
 and wherein said activation-condition changing portion changes said activation condition such that length of time for which the actuator device is activated is reduced. 
 
   
   
     16. The controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a wave-intensity-characteristic obtaining portion operable to measure said intensity of said wave, and obtain, as each of said at least one wave intensity characteristic, a wave intensity characteristic on the basis of the measured intensity of said wave. 
   
   
     17. The controller according to  claim 16 , wherein said wave-intensity-characteristic obtaining portion obtains, as each of said at least one wave intensity characteristic, said wave intensity characteristic corresponding to a level in a characteristic changing factor which causes said relationship between said propagated wave intensity and said output index to be changed. 
   
   
     18. The controller according to  claim 16 , further comprising an abnormality detecting portion operable to detect an abnormality of at least one of the vehicle and the actuator device. 
   
   
     19. The controller according to  claim 1 , controlling a pump device as the actuator device which serves as a hydraulic pressure source of a hydraulically operated braking system of the vehicle. 
   
   
     20. A controller for controlling an actuator device which is installed on a vehicle and operated by a motor, said controller comprising:
 a motor control portion operable to control the motor on the basis of a target value; 
 a target value determining portion operable to determine said target value on the basis of at least one wave intensity characteristic; 
 a target-value settable range determining portion operable to determine a target-value settable range within which said target-value is settable by said target-value determination portion, 
 wherein each said at least one wave intensity characteristic is represented by a relationship between (A) a propagated wave intensity indicative of an intensity of a wave which is generated as a result of activation of the actuator device and which is propagated to occupant of the vehicle, and (B) an output index indicative of an amount of an output of the motor, 
 wherein said at least one wave intensity characteristic includes: (a) an acoustic wave intensity characteristic which is represented by an acoustic-wave-based relationship between a propagated acoustic wave intensity as said propagated wave intensity indicative of the intensity of an acoustic wave as said wave, and said output index; and (b) a vibrational wave intensity characteristic which is represented by a vibrational-wave-based relationship between a propagated vibrational wave intensity as said propagated wave intensity indicative of the intensity of a vibrational wave as said wave, and said output index, 
 and wherein said target-value settable range is determined to be defined between two values respectively corresponding to two output values in said output index which are selected among (a) at least one acoustic-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value in said output index each of which establishes a bottom value in said propagated acoustic wave intensity, and (b) at least one vibrational-wave-intensity-bottom-value establishing output value in said output index each of which establishes a bottom value in said propagated vibrational wave intensity.